Library​ ​Bill​ ​of​ ​Rights

The​ ​American​ ​Library​ ​Association​ ​affirms​ ​that​ ​all​ ​libraries​ ​are​ ​forums​ ​for​ ​information​ ​and​ ​ideas, and​ ​that​ ​the​ ​following​ ​basic​ ​policies​ ​should​ ​guide​ ​their​ ​services. I.

Books​ ​and​ ​other​ ​library​ ​resources​ ​should​ ​be​ ​provided​ ​for​ ​the​ ​interest,​ ​information,​ ​and enlightenment​ ​of​ ​all​ ​people​ ​of​ ​the​ ​community​ ​the​ ​library​ ​serves.​ ​Materials​ ​should​ ​not​ ​be excluded​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​origin,​ ​background,​ ​or​ ​views​ ​of​ ​those​ ​contributing​ ​to​ ​their creation.

II. Libraries​ ​should​ ​provide​ ​materials​ ​and​ ​information​ ​presenting​ ​all​ ​points​ ​of​ ​view​ ​on

current​ ​and​ ​historical​ ​issues.​ ​Materials​ ​should​ ​not​ ​be​ ​proscribed​ ​or​ ​removed​ ​because​ ​of partisan​ ​or​ ​doctrinal​ ​disapproval.

III. Libraries​ ​should​ ​challenge​ ​censorship​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fulfillment​ ​of​ ​their​ ​responsibility​ ​to​ ​provide

information​ ​and​ ​enlightenment.

IV. Libraries​ ​should​ ​cooperate​ ​with​ ​all​ ​persons​ ​and​ ​groups​ ​concerned​ ​with​ ​resisting

abridgment​ ​of​ ​free​ ​expression​ ​and​ ​free​ ​access​ ​to​ ​ideas.

V. A​ ​person’s​ ​right​ ​to​ ​use​ ​a​ ​library​ ​should​ ​not​ ​be​ ​denied​ ​or​ ​abridged​ ​because​ ​of​ ​origin,​ ​age,

background,​ ​or​ ​views.

VI. Libraries​ ​which​ ​make​ ​exhibit​ ​spaces​ ​and​ ​meeting​ ​rooms​ ​available​ ​to​ ​the​ ​public​ ​they

serve​ ​should​ ​make​ ​such​ ​facilities​ ​available​ ​on​ ​an​ ​equitable​ ​bases,​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​the beliefs​ ​or​ ​affiliations​ ​of​ ​individuals​ ​or​ ​groups​ ​requesting​ ​their​ ​use.

Adopted​ ​June​ ​18,​ ​1948.​ ​Amended​ ​February​ ​2,​ ​1961,​ ​and​ ​January​ ​23,​ ​1980,​ ​inclusion​ ​of “age”​ ​reaffirmed​ ​January​ ​23,​ ​1996,​ ​by​ ​the​ ​ALA​ ​Council.